If you would like to enjoy a mini vacation to Italy this summer but would rather not pay the airfare, consider a modest drive up to the Napa Valley. Its Tuscan-like landscape, ubiquitous summer sunshine, gently rolling hills, miles of grape vineyards overlooked by palatial homes and wineries, might be just your ticket. And like Italy, the balmy Napa Valley air will be filled with the sound of music from July 11 to July 20.

The increasingly popular Festival del Sole is the raison d'être for all this delight -- a series of events peopled with stars of music, dance and theater, as well as fine wine, elegant cuisine and enriching art. It also includes wellness programs and other community programs, all held in multiple magnificent settings, including the spacious courtyard of Calistoga's Castello di Amoroso, an architectural clone of a grand medieval Tuscan castle.

Joshua Bell, the dashing young violin virtuoso, will be the opening night star, with subsequent nights featuring the great Pinchas Zukerman performing the Bruch Violin Concerto and tenor James Valenti and Lincoln Center's Sphinx Orchestra conducted by Alondra de la Parra.

There will also be a performance of Leonard Bernstein's chamber opera "Trouble in Tahiti," with Michael Barrett conducting the Sphinx Orchestra; a dance gala featuring prima ballerina Polina Semionova of the American Ballet Theatre and star dancers from the San Francisco Ballet performing vignettes from the world's greatest ballets; young maestro Carlo Ponti conducting his new orchestra, the LA Virtuosi, in a program of classical favorites; an Opera Gala featuring star tenor Matthew Polenzani and soprano Maria Agresta in a program of favorite arias with Maestro Ponti conducting the Sphinx Orchestra. In addition, there will be a number of jazz-oriented, Latino and other musical programs offered.

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The big glamour event will be a glitzy, star-studded gala at Far Niente Winery honoring screen legend Sophia Loren called "Bella Italia!" The tribute will include a gourmet dinner prepared by celebrity chefs, and music provided by Ponti, talented son of Loren, and his recently formed LA Virtuosi. A new composition, "Sinfonietta per Sofia," written by Daniel Brewbaker, will be a special highlight of the evening.

Tickets are sold individually, or in Allegro or VIP passes for multiple events. Some events are free. To purchase, call 888-337-6272 or go to www.festivaldelsole.org.

MORE FROM ITALIA: There's yet another genre of "Viva Italia" shining on the Bay Area's musical horizon. Verismo Opera, a small but quite competent Fairfield-based company, is in the midst of dual performances of Puccini favorites "Suor Angelica" and "Cavalleria Rusticana" at a couple of Bay Area venues. Performances began June 1 and will continue intermittently until July 12.

Verismo Opera states that its purpose is to "make opera accessible to the public at reasonable prices through a community effort of professional musicians and singers." The producers provide supertitles in English, and all performances are done with costumes, sets and a chamber orchestra.

The venues are chosen for their intimate settings in order to bring the drama closer to the audience. It also serves the purpose of providing opportunities for aspiring, as well as experienced singers to showcase their talents in a live theater setting.

The fledgling company is committed to performing the more popular and accessible operas, such as "Carmen," "La Boheme," "Madama Butterfly," "La Traviata," and "Tosca." The current performances feature a group of rotating singers and are conducted by Michael Moran and Frederick Winthrop.